Keeping kids happy, healthy on boat requires proper preparation

A nice channel catfish caught by Latham Koenen — while the youngster was practicing safe boating — is netted by veteran guide Manny Martinez during a trip on Calaveras Lake.

A nice channel catfish caught by Latham Koenen — while the youngster was practicing safe boating — is netted by veteran guide Manny Martinez during a trip on Calaveras Lake.

Photo: Photos By Ralph Winingham / For The Express-News

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Making sure his 7-year-old son Latham is properly fitted with a suitable life jacket, Kevin Koenen prepares for a family fishing trip on Calaveras Lake.

Making sure his 7-year-old son Latham is properly fitted with a suitable life jacket, Kevin Koenen prepares for a family fishing trip on Calaveras Lake.

Keeping kids happy, healthy on boat requires proper preparation

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SAN ANTONIO — As the daytime temperatures climb under the spring sun, the thought of getting back on the water to try out the fishing at area lakes is cropping up on anglers' minds as fast as bluebonnets along the roadsides.

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If young fishermen are part of the boating mix, proper preparation is the key to making sure only happy memories remain after the outdoor adventures.

“Safety is always first when you have youngsters out on the water,” said veteran fishing guide Manny Martinez, who has been taking families on trips across Calaveras and Braunig lakes for three decades.

“This is the time of year when a lot of people want to get out and enjoy the good weather, catch some fish and show their kids a good time. There are a lot of things a parent needs to do before we go out in the boat, and there are a lot of things they need to be aware of when we are out fishing.”

More Information

Data bank

Course: The next Texas Parks & Wildlife Department boat safety course scheduled in San Antonio will be conducted at 9:30 a.m. on May 24 at Bass Pro Shops just off Interstate 10 North. Call Diane Clamp at
830- 980-4211 for more information.

Contact: For more tips about fishing with youngsters and safe boating, call guide Manny Martinez of L&M Guide Service at
210-386-6695 or go online at
fishingwithmanny.com.

The guide said making sure the youngster is wearing a life jacket that fits and is designed for a child of a specific weight range is just the first step.

“It is the law that a youngster wear a life jacket from the time we are at the dock until we return to the dock, unless we are anchored somewhere on the lake,” Martinez said. “When we are anchored, it is up to the parent if they want the youngster to take off the life jacket or not. I normally recommend that they leave it on, particularly if the winds are 15 mph or higher.

“A kid can go over the side of the boat in a heartbeat, and even if the parent says the youngster can swim, the lake is a lot different than a backyard swimming pool. I've never lost anyone out of my boat, and I don't ever intend to.”

Last July, Martinez happened to be at the right place at the right time to avert a possible tragedy at Calaveras Lake involving two young women who were out on a small boat and were not wearing floatation devices.

About 3 p.m., when he was out fishing with a client, he received a call from an off-duty San Antonio Police Department officer who told him the department had received a report of people in the water from a capsized boat.

“We went over to the area and found one young woman, who we pulled into boat,” Martinez said. “She told us her step-sister was about 50 yards away, hanging onto their overturned bass buggy. We got to her just as that boat was going under. She was nearly in shock, so we got to her just in time.

“Neither of them was wearing a life jacket. The winds were about 15 mph that day, so it was a little rough on the water. They told us that when one of them stood up in the little boat to make a cast, the boat just capsized. They were pretty lucky we were close by and could get to them as quickly as we did.”

Concerning the age of children on the water, Martinez said he normally would like those no younger than 7 to 8 years old on his fishing trips because they are more interested in fishing and are easier to keep under control.

“A 4- or 5-year-old has a shorter attention span,” he said. “They can start running around the boat because they are bored, and you don't want to head back to the dock after 15 minutes because the child is whining or throwing a fit.”

Although he has never had an accident on his boat in which a youngster was injured, the guide said parents should be aware that there are potentially dangerous items such as hooks, knives and other tools on the boat that should be kept away from the boating children.

Martinez added fishing guides are busy running the boat, finding fish and helping anglers land their catches, leaving them little time to work as a babysitter.

“We can't let the youngster run around all over the boat, because it would be very easy for them to get hurt or interfere with people catching fish,” he said. “They should be old enough and in control enough that they are able to sit still for a while until the fish start biting.

“If they are patient, then we can keep them busy until their arms wear out.”